Top-loading washing machine

Abstract

To provide a top-loading washing machine that reduces the frequency of maintenance on the drying filter and improves user convenience. [Solution] The vertical washing machine comprises a water tank having a first opening and a second opening located above the first opening; an air passage provided outside the water tank and communicating with the water tank through at least the first and second openings; a blower for blowing air from the air passage into the water tank; a water pumping mechanism for lifting the water in the water tank to at least the second opening; and a first filter provided in the air passage for collecting foreign matter. The first filter is held along the horizontal direction and has a surface portion that faces downward and is upstream of the air passage in the direction of airflow. The surface portion is located above the lower end of the second opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to vertical washing machines.

Background Art

[0002] A vertical washing and drying machine capable of performing a drying process in addition to a laundry washing process is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a machine body having an outer tub, an inner tub located inside the outer tub, a driving device for rotationally driving the inner tub, and an outer tub cover covering the upper end opening edge of the outer layer, and further having a drying unit. In this machine, hot air is supplied from the drying unit into the inner tub to dry the laundry, and a lower exhaust passage is provided from the lower part to the circumferential side part of the outer tub, and an upper exhaust passage is provided in the outer tub cover. The hot air supplied into the inner tub is discharged to the outside of the machine through these lower exhaust passage and upper exhaust passage in sequence. And a filter for capturing lint (thread waste) scattered when drying the laundry is provided at the tip of the upper exhaust passage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Every time a drying operation is performed, lint generated from the laundry accumulates on the filter. When the drying process is performed with the lint accumulated, the air volume decreases and the drying efficiency decreases. On the other hand, cleaning the filter every time after the drying operation is troublesome for the user.

[0005] Therefore, a vertical washing machine is provided that reduces the maintenance frequency of the drying filter and improves the convenience for the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vertical washing machine of this embodiment includes a water tank having a first opening and a second opening located above the first opening; an air passage provided outside the water tank and communicating with the water tank through at least the first and second openings; a blower for blowing air from the air passage into the water tank; a water pumping mechanism for lifting the water in the water tank to at least the second opening; and a first filter provided in the air passage for collecting foreign matter. The first filter is held along the horizontal direction and has a surface portion that faces downward and is upstream of the airflow direction in the air passage. The surface portion is located above the lower end of the second opening. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an example of a top-loading washing machine according to one embodiment, with the main body lid open. [Figure 2] This diagram schematically shows the internal configuration of an example of a vertical washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] A plan view showing the area around the water tank cover with the top cover and back cover removed, illustrating an example of a vertical washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an example of a vertical washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration around the exhaust air passage of an example of a vertical washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows a schematic configuration of a filter device in an example of a vertical washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A plan view showing an example of a vertical washing machine according to one embodiment, with the filter device installed in the exhaust air passage. [Figure 8] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration around the exhaust air passage of an example of a vertical washing machine according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] A washing machine 10 according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The washing machine 10 as a garment processing device shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 comprises a housing 11, a top cover 12, a back cover 13, a main body lid 14, a water tank 15, a rotating tub 16, a water tank cover 17, a pulsator 18, a drive unit 19, a drainage mechanism 20, a water supply mechanism 21, an air passage 30, a drying unit 40, and a control device 50. The left side of Figure 1 is the front of the washing machine 10, and the right side of Figure 1 is the rear of the washing machine 10. The side of the washing machine 10 that is the installation surface, i.e., the vertically downward side, is the bottom of the washing machine 10, and the side opposite the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upward side, is the top of the washing machine 10. The direction perpendicular to the front-to-back and up-to-down directions of the washing machine 10 is the width direction of the washing machine 10, i.e., the left-to-right direction. The washing machine 10 is a so-called vertical washing machine with a vertical axis in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 16 is oriented vertically.

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, the housing 11, the top cover 12, and the back cover 13 together constitute the main body of the washing machine 10, forming its outer shell. The housing 11 is formed in a roughly rectangular box shape from, for example, a steel plate, and has an opening at the top. The top cover 12 is located above the housing 11. The outer shape of the top cover 12 is formed to conform to the outer shape of the housing 11 and has an opening 121 on the inside. The back cover 13 is located behind the top cover 12. The back cover 13 is configured as a rectangle that is long in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10.

[0010] The main body lid 14 is rotatably supported at the rear of the top cover 12 and opens and closes the opening 161 of the top cover 12. The main body lid 14 is located in front of the back cover 13. In this embodiment, the main body lid 14 is configured to be foldable in two at its center in the front-to-back direction.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the water tank 15 and the rotating tub 16 are arranged inside the housing 11. The water tank 15 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top, and has an upper opening 151, a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 152, and a drain port 153. The drain port 153 is an opening formed in the bottom of the water tank 15, connecting the inside and outside of the water tank 15, and serves as the outlet for draining water from the water tank 15 to the outside of the machine via the drainage mechanism 20. The rotating tub 16 is rotatably housed inside the water tank 15. The rotating tub 16 is also formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top. Numerous holes (not shown) are formed on the bottom and sides of the rotating tub 16. These numerous holes function as water passages during washing and as ventilation holes during drying.

[0012] The water tank 15 has a first opening 154 and a second opening 155. The first opening 154 and the second opening 155 are each formed by penetrating the peripheral wall 152 in the thickness direction, and communicate the inside and outside of the water tank 15. The first opening 154 and the second opening 155 are spaced apart in the vertical direction in the rear portion of the peripheral wall 152. The first opening 154 is formed in the lower part of the peripheral wall 152. The second opening 155 is formed in the upper part of the peripheral wall 152. The first opening 154 functions as an exhaust port from the water tank 15 during drying operation. During washing operation, the first opening 154 and the second opening 155 function as water outlets from the water tank 15, and the first opening 154 also functions as a water return port to the water tank 15.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the tank cover 17 is attached below the top cover 12 and to the top of the tank 15. Figure 3 shows the washing machine 10 viewed from above with the top cover 12 and back cover 13 removed. The tank cover 17 is formed in a generally circular shape and opens and closes the upper opening 151 of the tank 15. The tank cover 17 has a tank cover body 171, an opening 172, and an inner lid 173. The tank cover body 171 is formed in a generally circular shape and constitutes the main body of the tank cover 17, with an opening 172 formed in the center. The opening 172 is formed in a shape such as a semicircle, oval, or ellipse and connects the space inside the tank 15 and the rotating tub 16 with the outside of the washing machine 10. The inner lid 173 is rotatably supported at the rear of the tank cover body 171 and opens and closes the opening 172.

[0014] The opening 172 of the tank cover 17 and the opening 121 of the top cover 12 both serve as entry and exit points for laundry when the user loads or unloads laundry into the rotating tub 16. During washing or drying cycles, the openings 172 and 121 are closed by the inner lid 173 and the main body lid 14.

[0015] The rotating drum 16 has a pulsator 18 at its bottom. The pulsator 18 is rotatably mounted relative to the rotating drum 16 and has the function of agitating laundry such as clothes contained inside the rotating drum 16. The drive unit 19 is located at the lower part of the housing 11, outside the bottom of the water tank 15, and is connected to the rotating drum 16 and the pulsator 18 by passing through the water tank 15. The drive unit 19 can be configured, for example, as an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. The drive unit 19 can selectively rotate the rotating drum 16 and the pulsator 18 independently of the rotation of the other.

[0016] The drainage mechanism 20 has a drain valve 201 and a drainage path 202. The drain valve 201 is an electromagnetic-driven on-off valve for liquids and is driven and controlled by a control device 50. The drain valve 201 is provided in the middle of the drainage path 202 that drains the water stored in the water tank 15 to the outside of the machine, and opens and closes the drainage path 202. The drainage path 202 extends from the drain port 153 of the water tank 15 to the outside of the washing machine 10. When the drain valve 201 closes, the water tank 15 can store water. Also, when the drain valve 201 opens, the water stored in the water tank 15 can be drained to the outside of the machine.

[0017] The water supply mechanism 21 is provided above the water tank 15 and inside the top cover 12 and the back cover 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply mechanism 21 has a connection port 211, a water supply valve 212, a water supply path 213, and a water injection case 214.

[0018] Although not shown in detail, the connection port 211 is connected to an external water source such as a faucet through a water supply hose or the like. The water supply valve 212 is an electromagnetic-driven on-off valve for liquids and is driven and controlled by the control device 50 to open and close the water supply path 213. The water supply path 213 extends from the connection port 211 toward the water tank 15 and is a path for supplying water from an external water supply source to the water tank 15. The water injection case 214 is in the middle of the water supply path 213 and is located downstream of the water supply valve 212 with respect to the water flow. Inside the water injection case 214, a detergent input case (not shown in detail) is arranged.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the water tank cover main body 171 has a water supply port 174 and an air supply port 175. The water supply port 174 and the air supply port 175 are located on the back of the water tank cover main body 171 and are openings formed through the water tank cover main body 171 in the thickness direction. The downstream end of the water supply path 213 is connected to the water supply port 174. As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply port 174 is the entrance of the water for the washing operation supplied by the water supply mechanism 21 to the water tank 15 and the rotary tub 16. The air supply side end of the air duct 30 described later is connected to the air supply port 175. The air supply port 175 is the entrance of the warm air supplied by the drying unit 40 to the water tank 15 and the rotary tub 16.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the water tank cover body 171 further has a communication port 176 and an air duct cover 177. The communication port 176 is located at the back of the water tank cover body 171 and is an opening formed by penetrating the water tank cover body 171 in the thickness direction. The communication port 176 is located in the middle part of the air duct 30 and serves as an outlet through which the air discharged from the first opening 154 of the water tank 15 escapes upward above the water tank cover 17. The air duct cover 177 is formed in a container shape that is recessed generally upward and is disposed on the back of the water tank cover body 171 so as to cover the communication port 176 from above. A plurality of ventilation holes 178 are formed in the air duct cover 177. The ventilation holes 178 are formed by penetrating the air duct cover 177 in the thickness direction and communicate the downstream side and the upstream side of the air duct cover 177. The air duct cover 177 is configured to be detachable from the water tank cover body 171.

[0021] The air duct 30 is formed inside the apparatus main body and is a path connecting the first opening 154 and the air supply port 175. The air duct 30 includes an exhaust air duct 31, a connection air duct 32, and an air supply air duct 33. The exhaust air duct 31 is a path connecting from the first opening 154 to the communication port 176 and is formed to extend vertically outside the peripheral wall portion 152 of the water tank 15. The exhaust air duct 31 communicates with the water tank 15 through the first opening 154 and the second opening 155. The connection air duct 32 is a path connecting from the communication port 176 to a blower device 41 described later. The air supply air duct 33 is a path connecting from the blower device 41 to the air supply port 175.

[0022] The drying unit 40 is provided above the water tank cover 17 inside the back cover 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the drying unit 40 has a blower device 41 and a heating device 42.

[0023] The blower 41 draws in air from the downstream side and blows it into the water tank 15 via the heating device 42. The blower 41 is, for example, a sirocco fan having a fan and a fan motor. The blower 41 is electrically connected to the control device 50 and is driven under the control of the control device 50. In this embodiment, the blower 41 is a sirocco fan, but is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the blower 41 may be, for example, a propeller fan or a turbo fan.

[0024] The heating device 42 has the function of heating the air supplied by the blower 41. The heating device 42 is electrically connected to the control device 50 and is driven under the control of the control device 50. The heating device 42 is located downstream of the blower 41 and upstream of the air intake port 175 with respect to the direction of air flow in the air supply passage 33. The heating device 42 is, for example, a heater. In other embodiments, the heating device 42 may be, for example, a heat pump.

[0025] The control device 50 shown in Figure 4 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 501 and a storage area 502 such as ROM, RAM, and non-volatile memory. The control device 50 controls the operation of the entire washing machine 10. The drive unit 19, drain valve 201, water supply valve 212, blower 41, and heating unit 42 are electrically connected to the control device 50 and driven and controlled by the control device 50. The control device 50 is capable of performing a washing operation including a washing process, a rinsing process, and a spin-drying process, a drying operation including a drying process, and a washing and drying operation including both a washing operation and a drying operation.

[0026] During the washing or rinsing process, the control device 50 drives the drive unit 19 to rotate the rotating tank 16 and / or the pulsator 18. This agitates the water in the tank 15, and the water level rises on the side of the peripheral wall 152 due to centrifugal force. In other words, the drive unit 19 functions as a water pumping mechanism.

[0027] In the drying or blowing process, the control device 50 drives the blower 41 to blow air in the direction of the black arrow in Figure 2. The control device 50 also energizes the heating device 42 to heat the air supplied by the blower 41. The heated air is supplied from the air intake 175 to the water tank 15 and the rotating tub 16 to warm the laundry. The air that has passed through the rotating tub 16 and the water tank 15 is discharged from the first opening 154. The air discharged from the first opening 154 into the air passage 30 rises through the exhaust air passage 31 and reaches the connecting air passage 32 from the communication port 176. The air that reaches the connecting air passage 32 is again carried to the heating device 42 by the blower 41 and heated by the heating device 42.

[0028] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the washing machine 10 has a filter device 60. The filter device 60 is located in the air passage 30 and has the function of collecting foreign matter such as lint contained in the air passing through the air passage 30. The filter device 60 consists of at least a first filter 61, a second filter 62, and a lint box 63. The first filter 61 is located downstream of the second filter 62, i.e., above it in this case, with respect to the direction of airflow in the exhaust air passage 31. The lint box 63 has the function of housing the first filter 61 and the second filter 62.

[0029] As shown in Figure 6, the lint box 63 is formed in a roughly rectangular box shape. The lint box 63 is housed in the upper part of the exhaust air passage 31. When housed in the upper part of the exhaust air passage 31, the lint box 63 is positioned so that at least a portion of it faces the second opening 155. The lint box 63 has an upper surface portion 64, a lower surface portion 65, an inner circumferential surface portion 66, an outer circumferential surface portion 67, and left and right side portions 68. The upper surface portion 64 forms the upper surface of the lint box 63 and has an upper opening 641. The upper opening 641 is formed by penetrating the upper surface portion 64 in the thickness direction and connects the inside and outside of the lint box 63 in the vertical direction. The lower surface portion 65 forms the lower surface of the lint box 63 and has a lower opening 651. The lower opening 651 is formed by penetrating the lower surface portion 65 in the thickness direction and connects the inside and outside of the lint box 63 in the vertical direction.

[0030] The inner circumferential surface portion 66 forms the inner circumferential surface of the lint box 63, that is, the surface facing the water tank 15. That is, when the lint box 63 is housed in the exhaust air passage 31, the inner circumferential surface portion 66 faces the peripheral wall portion 152. The inner circumferential surface portion 66 has a plurality of holes 661. The plurality of holes 661 are small holes formed through the inner circumferential surface portion 66 in the thickness direction and are formed on the upper part of the inner circumferential surface portion 66. Specifically, when the lint box 63 is housed in the exhaust air passage 31, the region in which the plurality of holes 661 are formed is located opposite the second opening 155. As a result, the inside of the water tank 15 and the inside of the lint box 63 are in communication via the second opening 155 and the plurality of holes 661.

[0031] The outer peripheral surface portion 67 forms the outer peripheral surface of the lint box 63, that is, the surface away from the water tank 15. In other words, the outer peripheral surface portion 67 forms the outer surface of the lint box 63 with respect to the radial direction of the water tank 15. The left and right side portions 68 form surfaces that are generally perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface portion 66 and the outer peripheral surface portion 67. In other words, the side portions 68 form surfaces that extend along a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the water tank 15.

[0032] The first filter 61 is positioned to cover the upper opening 641 in a manner that extends generally horizontally. The first filter 61 has a first surface 611 facing downward and a second surface 612 facing upward. That is, the first surface 611 faces upstream with respect to the direction in which air flows through the exhaust air passage 31, and the second surface 612 faces downstream.

[0033] The second filter 62 is positioned to cover the lower opening 651 in a manner that extends generally horizontally. The second filter 62 has a first surface 621 facing downward and a second surface 622 facing upward. That is, the first surface 621 faces upstream with respect to the direction in which air flows through the exhaust air passage 31, and the second surface 622 faces downstream.

[0034] When the blower 41 is activated, the air exhausted from the water tank 15 through the first opening 154 passes through the second filter 62 and the first filter 61 in sequence. Lint carried by the air to the second filter 62 accumulates on the first surface 621. The air that has passed through the second filter 62 rises inside the lint box 63 and reaches the first filter 61. The mesh size of the first filter 61 is set to be finer than that of the second filter 62. Therefore, lint that was not captured by the second filter 62 and was carried by the air to the first filter 61 accumulates on the first surface 611. In other words, the first filter 61 can capture fine lint that was not captured by the second filter 62.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, the first opening 154 has a lower end 154a and an upper end 154b. The second opening 155 has a lower end 155a and an upper end 155b. The first filter 61 is located above the second opening 155. More specifically, the first surface 611 is located above at least the lower end 155a of the second opening 155. In this embodiment, the first surface 611 is located above the upper end 155b. The second filter 62 is located above the first opening 154 and below the second opening 155 in the vertical direction. More specifically, at least the second surface 622 of the second filter 62 is located above the upper end 154b of the first opening 154 and below the lower end 155a of the second opening 155. In this embodiment, the first surface 621 of the second filter 62 is located above the upper end 154b of the first opening 154 and below the lower end 155a of the second opening 155.

[0036] When the drain valve 201 is closed and the pulsator 18 is rotated by the water pumping mechanism, i.e., the drive unit 19, the water in the tank 15 is lifted and supplied to the lint box 63 through the second opening 155 and the hole 661, as shown by the white arrows in Figure 5. In this case, the rotating tank 16 has a protrusion 162 on the part facing the second opening 155 that protrudes radially outward from the rotating tank 16, i.e., toward the second opening 155. The protrusion 162 has the function of guiding the water that has risen between the rotating tank 16 and the peripheral wall 152 by the function of the water pumping mechanism toward the inside of the lint box 63 through the second opening 155. The lower surface of the protrusion 162, i.e., the part that the pumped water hits, has an inclined portion 163 that rises radially outward, i.e. toward the second opening 155. The water that hits the inclined portion 163 is guided along the inclined surface and flows into the inside of the lint box 63 from the second opening 155. Inside the lint box 63, the water moves diagonally upward, hitting the first surface 611 of the first filter 61 and washing away the accumulated lint. The protrusion 162 may be composed of, for example, a balance ring placed at the opening 161 of the rotating tank 16.

[0037] Furthermore, if the water lifted by the water pumping mechanism reaches the first filter 61 through the second opening 155, the configuration without the protrusion 162 is also acceptable. Similarly, if the water lifted by the water pumping mechanism reaches the first filter 61 through the second opening 155, the protrusion 162 does not need to have the inclined portion 163.

[0038] Furthermore, the water that rises from the first opening 154 through the exhaust air passage 31 due to the function of the water pumping mechanism passes through the second filter 62 and is supplied into the lint box 63. A portion of the pumped water moves upward within the lint box 63, hits the first surface 611 of the first filter 61, and washes away the accumulated lint. The water that hits the first filter 61 and a portion of the pumped water descend within the lint box 63 and passes through the second filter 62 from top to bottom. As the water passes through the second filter 62, it washes away the lint accumulated on the first surface 621 and is collected into the water tank 15 from the first opening 154. Also, because the second filter 62 has a coarser mesh than the first filter 61, at least a portion of the lint washed away from the first surface 611 of the first filter 61 passes through the second filter 62 and is collected into the water tank 15 together with the water. The collected lint may be collected by a waste net (not shown) provided in the rotating tank 16, or it may be discharged outside the machine via the drainage mechanism 20.

[0039] The filter device 60 is detachably mounted in the exhaust air passage 31. More specifically, the filter device 60 is formed to be removable from the exhaust air passage 31 from above. As shown in Figure 6, the lint box 63 has one or more ribs 70, in this case two. The ribs 70 are provided on the left and right side portions 68 near the inner circumferential surface portions 66. The ribs 70 are formed to protrude from the left and right side portions 68 in the circumferential direction of the water tank 15 and extend in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 7, the exhaust air passage 31 has one or more grooves 80, in this case two, near the circumferential wall portion 152. The grooves 80 are formed in positions corresponding to the ribs 70 when the filter device 60 is mounted in the exhaust air passage 31. The grooves 80 extend in the vertical direction and are recessed circumferentially outward with respect to the filter device 60, and receive the ribs 70 inside. This allows the user to remove the filter device 60 from the exhaust air passage 31 and clean it if it becomes necessary to clean the inside of the lint box 63.

[0040] Although not shown in detail, the vertical length of the groove 80 is set to be approximately the same as the vertical length of the rib 70, and the bottom of the groove 80 abuts against the lower surface of the rib 70, thereby supporting the lint box 63 from below.

[0041] Furthermore, at least the first filter 61 is configured to be detachable from the lint box 63. The first filter 61 has a frame portion 613 that surrounds the outer periphery of the first surface 611 and the second surface 612. In this case, the first filter 61 and the lint box 63 can be attached and detached by any known method. For example, the lint box 63 has one or more claw portions 71 on its upper surface portion 64. The claw portions 71 are formed to be rotatable in a plane parallel to the upper surface portion 64, and when the free end 72 faces the first filter 61, it restricts the upward movement of the frame portion 613 and, consequently, the first filter 61. Also, when the free end 72 faces a direction other than the first filter 61, it allows the upward movement of the frame portion 613 and, consequently, the first filter 61. This allows the first filter 61 to be removed and the inside of the lint box 63 to be cleaned when cleaning the filter device 60.

[0042] After cleaning is complete, the user installs the first filter 61 into the top opening 641 and turns the free end 72 back towards the first filter 61, thereby restricting the movement of the first filter 61. After that, the user installs the filter device 60 into the exhaust air passage 31.

[0043] The washing machine 10 as a vertical washing machine of this embodiment described above comprises a water tank 15, an exhaust air passage 31 as an air passage, a blower 41, a pulsator 18 and a drive unit 19 as a water lifting mechanism, and a first filter 61. The water tank 15 has a first opening 154 and a second opening 155 provided above the first opening 154. The exhaust air passage 31 is provided outside the water tank 15 and communicates with the water tank 15 through at least the first opening 154 and the second opening 155. The blower 41 has the function of blowing air from the exhaust air passage 31 into the water tank 15. The water lifting mechanism has the function of lifting the water in the water tank 15 to at least the second opening 155. The first filter 61 is provided in the exhaust air passage 31 and has the function of collecting foreign matter. The first filter 61 is held horizontally and has a first surface 611 which is an upstream surface with respect to the direction of airflow in a downward-facing air passage. The first surface 611 is located above the lower end 155a of the second opening 155.

[0044] As a result, water lifted by the water pumping mechanism reaches the first filter 61 through the second opening 155, allowing it to wash away lint accumulated on the first surface 611. Therefore, the frequency of cleaning and maintenance of the filter device 60 by the user can be reduced. Thus, a top-loading washing machine with improved user convenience is provided.

[0045] Furthermore, if the first surface 611 is located at the same height as the upper end 155b of the second opening 155 or above the upper end 155b, even if air enters the lint box 63 from the water tank 15 through the second opening 155 without passing through the first opening 154, it will still pass through the first filter 61. In this case, it is possible to prevent air that has not passed through either filter 61 or 62 from reaching the blower 41 or heating device 42.

[0046] The washing machine 10 is equipped with a second filter 62 located in the exhaust air passage 31 above the first opening 154 and below the second opening 155, and having a mesh size that is coarser than that of the first filter 61.

[0047] According to this, during drying operation, the air passing through the exhaust air passage 31 first passes through the coarser second filter 62, where most of the lint is collected, delaying the accumulation of lint on the first filter 61 and suppressing clogging of the first filter 61. In addition, by making the second filter 62 coarser, at least some of the fine lint washed away from the first filter 61 can pass through the second filter 62, making it less likely for lint to accumulate in the lint box 63. Therefore, the frequency of cleaning and maintenance of the filter device 60 by the user can be further reduced.

[0048] The washing machine 10 includes a lint box 63 that houses a first filter 61 and a second filter 62. The lint box 63 is detachably installed within the exhaust air passage 31.

[0049] According to this design, any lint or other debris left between the first filter 61 and the second filter 62 can be cleaned by removing the lint box 63. Furthermore, since the first filter 61 and the second filter 62 can be removed from the washing machine 10 at once, the user's cleaning and maintenance effort is reduced.

[0050] At least the first filter 61 is configured to be detachable from the lint box 63.

[0051] According to this, the first filter 61 can be easily removed from the lint box 63, making it easier to scrape out lint and other foreign matter accumulated between the first filter 61 and the second filter 62 from the lint box 63. Therefore, user convenience during cleaning and maintenance of the filter device 60 can be improved.

[0052] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, the first surface 611 of the first filter 61 is located above the upper end 155b of the second opening 155, but this is not limited to this. In other embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, the first surface 611 may be located at the same height as the upper end 155b of the second opening 155 or below it. In this case, water that has entered the lint box 63 through the second opening 155 is more likely to come into contact with the first surface 611, and a better cleaning effect can be expected.

[0053] Furthermore, although the second filter 62 was not configured to be detachable from the lint box 63 in the above embodiment, it is not limited to this. In other embodiments, the second filter 62 may be configured to be detachable from the lint box 63. For example, in other embodiments, a claw portion 71 may also be provided on the lower surface portion 65. Alternatively, the second filter 62 may be provided with a frame portion that surrounds the first surface 621 and the second surface 622 from the outer periphery, thereby configuring the second filter 62 to be detachable from the lint box 63.

[0054] The embodiments described above are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 10...Washing machine (top-loading washing machine), 10...Main unit, 15...Water tank, 154...First opening, 155...Second opening, 16...Rotating drum, 18...Pulsator, 19...Drive unit, 31...Exhaust air passage (air passage), 41...Blower, 42...Heating device, 60...Filter device, 61...First filter, 611...First surface (surface part), 612...Second surface, 62...Second filter, 63...Lint box

Claims

1. A water tank having a first opening and a second opening located above the first opening, An air passage provided outside the water tank and communicating with the water tank through at least the first opening and the second opening, A blower that blows air from the air passage into the water tank, A water pumping mechanism that lifts the water in the tank to at least the second opening, The air passage is provided with a first filter for collecting foreign matter, The first filter is held horizontally and has a surface portion that faces downward and is upstream of the airflow direction in the air passage. The aforementioned surface portion is located above the lower end of the second opening. Top-loading washing machine.

2. The air passage includes a second filter positioned above the first opening and below the second opening, and having a mesh size that is coarser than that of the first filter. The vertical washing machine according to claim 1.

3. The system comprises a lint box housing the first filter and the second filter, The lint box is configured to be removable within the air passage. The vertical washing machine according to claim 2.

4. At least the first filter is configured to be detachable from the lint box. The vertical washing machine according to claim 3.

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